You have heard women chanting nothing for us without us just as the youth demand to be around the table when matters that affect them come to the table.
Deaf persons too have a say on issues that affect them and sign language is key to make their aspirations count.
Every year, the world shines a light on the achievements, challenges and rights of deaf people.
Central to the global reflection is the mixed legacy of the Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf held in September 1980 in Milan, Italy.
The pivotal talks that shaped education systems for generations brought together 164 delegates from various countries to discuss the education of Deaf students, but only three were deaf individuals.
Despite their presence, the perspectives of deaf delegates were largely marginalised and the conference’s outcomes would have long-lasting consequences for the deaf globally.
After debating teaching methodologies for five days, a majority of delegates adopted resolutions favouring the exclusive use the oral method—teaching deaf students to speak and read lips—downplaying sign language.
The agreements explicitly declared spoken word as superior and recommended its exclusive use in deaf education.
As a result, sign language was banned in many educational institutions, affecting schools in many countries, including Malawi.
The consequences were profound: Deaf teachers lost employment opportunities and deaf writers, artists and lawyers faced significant barriers to access further education and professional advancement.
Sign language, the natural language of the deaf, was suppressed in classrooms worldwide, stifling cultural expression and communication.
Despite the Milan resolutions, deaf communities continued to use and develop sign languages secretly, especially in homes, communities and informal educational settings.
The resistance led to the emergence of regional dialects, with institutions such as Gallaudet University in the US becoming hubs for preserving and promoting sign language.
This ensured it its survival and growth as the international language for the deaf.
In recent years, global organisations like the World Federation of the Deaf have tirelessly acknowledged the injustices inflicted by the Milan Conference.
The federation advocates the recognition and revitalisation of sign languages worldwide.
Founded in 1951 in Rome, Italy, it declared the last Sunday of September as the International Day of the Deaf.
The observance has since expanded to become the International Week of the Deaf, a platform for advocacy, cultural celebration, awareness-raising and highlighting the challenges faced by the special-needs community in education, employment, healthcare and access to public services.
Each year, Malawians join the global commemoration, which focuses on a specific theme to promote sign language as a human right.
The week also encourages networking among deaf organisations, educators, policymakers and allies, providing opportunities to share best practices and develop strategies for inclusion.
Advocacy for human rights is central, aligning with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and calling on governments to address gaps in accessibility, inclusion, and equality.
Through cultural events, performances and community gatherings, deaf communities worldwide reinforce pride, solidarity and global visibility.
By aligning activities internationally, the international week helps reduce stigma, promote understanding of deaf culture and ensure that the contributions of deaf people are recognised and valued.
The Milan Conference, despite its controversial outcomes, remains a key chapter in deaf history—a reminder of the importance of linguistic and cultural preservation for minority communities.
As Malawi’s deaf community joins the global commemoration, it is not only a commemoration of history but also a call to action—to continue advocating for inclusion, promoting sign language and ensuring that deaf voices are heard in education, policy and society at large.
